What A Nigerian Facebook Scam Looks Like

Facebook is arguably one of the safer corners of the Internet, with fairly complex security and privacy controls. But when passwords get busted, even on Facebook, not everyone is whom they're pretending to be. Like a Nigerian scammer, posing only slightly convincingly as one of your real-life friends, trying to get you to send them a $900 wire transfer.

A former university colleague ("Evan") passed along this Facebook conversation, which he promises really happened to him. In it, a scammer takes over one of his real-world friend's accounts ("Calvin"), pretends to be stranded in London, and asks for money to get a plane ticket and pay hotel bills.

We've asked Facebook about how common these types of scams are -- one made the rounds last November -- and what they do about them. (Update: Facebook response below.) In the meantime, a friendly reminder to be skeptical on the Internet, even when you think you're talking to someone you've known for years.

Calvin: hey

Evan: holy moly. what's up man?

Calvin: i need your help urgently

Evan: yes sir

Calvin: am stuck here in london

Evan: stuck?

Calvin: yes i came here for a vacation Calvin: on my process coming back home i was robbed inside the hotel i loged in

Evan: ok so what do you need

Calvin: can you loan me $900 to get a return ticket back home and pay my hotel bills

Evan: i think so. that really sucks

Calvin: can you loam me now

Evan: well maybe i don't know that's a lot of $

Calvin: how can you loan me?

Evan: what do you want me to do

Calvin: i want you to loan me $900 Calvin: i promise i pay you back

Evan: how do you want me to loan it to you?

Calvin: you can have the money send via western union

Evan: oh yeah that's true

Calvin: will you go and send it now

Evan: well i don't know

Calvin: you can have it send online now www.westernunion.com

Evan: damn how did you get stuck there

Calvin: i came here for a vacation and i was robbed by some gang

Evan: ok well i want to help you, since we're friends

Calvin: ok. Thanks

Evan: sure thing man Evan: ok one question

Calvin: are you sending it now?

Evan: what was the name of our high school mascot? Evan: hello? Evan: cal?

Calvin: Shawnee Mission Northwest High '01

Evan: what? i know

Calvin: it seems you dont to help

Evan: what of course i do want to help

Calvin: am in a hot sits here and you asking me silly question

Evan: what is hot sits

Calvin: am dead here

Evan: i hope you die there YOU HACKER good luck finding someone stupid bye now

(a few minutes later)

Evan: oh wait. i just realized what an idiot you are and its actually kind of funny

Calvin: are you not dead

Evan: who taught you english?

Calvin: my sister#

Evan: your english is bad it does not sound like the english of someone from the us so no one will believe you

Calvin: how can you teach me

Evan: ok i will. but you have to send me $900.

Calvin: they dont send western union here we only receive

Evan: what country are you in?

Calvin: nigeria

Evan: i have bad news for you many americans know about nigerians sending emails to this country to try to get money

Calvin: yes

Evan: it is a trick that we know about so we are very careful

Calvin: eeeeeeeeeeeeh

Evan: you will not find a stupid person to send you money

Calvin: i have got some

Evan: well good job Evan: do you live in lagos or in another city?

Calvin: Lagos how did you got to know

Evan: i am a student of the world i would like to travel to lagos

Calvin: lagos is a place to be to visit so full of enjoyment so when are you coming

Evan: why do you steal money from people?

Calvin: i need money for my college fees but i wanna stop i promise i will stop but you people slave us during the 60s

Evan: we did not have slaves in the 60s

Calvin: but you about the slave trade

Evan: yes that is true but slaves have been illegal here for almost 150 years

Calvin: i can see that you ae a law student why can't you become a lawyer

Evan: i will be a lawyer in 2 years when i finish school

Calvin: ok

Evan: how old are you?

Calvin: 27 i need work i eed a god job

Evan: there are many nigerians in america do you know anyone who has gone to another country?

Calvin: i know there many nigerian that is in america i want to come to america to complte my education

Evan: maybe i will visit someday i hope you don't steal any more money good luck finding a job

Calvin: sure.... you will love it

Evan: what is your name?

Calvin: tunde

Evan: i must go tunde be well my friend

Calvin: cant we be friend can you add me on your facebook friends

Evan: i am sorry, but due to the odd circumstances of our initial greeting, i must terminate this relationship. i hope you understand.

Calvin: am sorry for that evan

Evan: as am i, tunde as am i

Update: Facebook responds. As expected, this isn't too common.

This is a very low volume attack, affecting only a small number of users, but the potential impact to an individual user is high so we're taking it very seriously.

Our team has already detected various trends in the accounts of users who have been compromised. We're using this data to quickly surface compromised accounts, ideally before the spammers have gotten very far. When we find compromised accounts or they are brought to our attention, we're working to make sure the accounts get back to their rightful owners as soon as possible.

We're reminding users to be very suspicious of anyone, even friends, who ask you over the Internet to send money. Please verify their circumstances through some other means than the web (e.g. call them or mutual friends). If you see something that looks amiss with any of your friend's accounts, please report it to us through one of the contact forms on the site.